Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has declared his candidacy for the leadership of the Conservative Party.
Mr. Shapps told the Sunday Times that he would not call a general election if he were to become prime minister.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, one of the bookmakers’ favorites for the position, has announced he will not run.
Mr. Wallace stated on Twitter that he is focused on his current position and “keeping this beautiful country safe.”
Mr. Shapps stated that he would draught an emergency budget, direct his chancellor to reduce personal income tax for the poorest individuals and provide state assistance to enterprises with high energy usage.
He was one of the top cabinet ministers who did not resign during the turbulent week at Westminster that culminated in the resignation of Mr. Johnson.
He appeared to criticize colleagues who did so by telling the paper that he had “not spent the last few stormy years planning or briefing against the prime minister” or organizing a background leadership campaign.
He told the newspaper: Despite his weaknesses – and who is without defects? – I admire Boris Johnson. I have never for a moment questioned his patriotism.”
Mr. Wallace appeared to be in a particularly strong position, as he topped surveys conducted by the website Conservative Home and was the betting favorite.
It will now be of great curiosity to see which candidate he chooses, as his support is likely to provide a significant boost to their campaign.
Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak the most prominent candidate to replace Mr. Johnson, launched his campaign on Friday with the slogan “someone must seize this moment and make the correct decisions.”
Several senior Tory MPs, including Oliver Dowden, Mark Spencer, and Liam Fox, have endorsed his campaign, and he remains the bookmakers’ favorite to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Tuesday’s departure of Mr. Sunak from the cabinet contributed to the mass resignation of ministers that pushed the Prime Minister to resign as Tory leader.
Mr. Johnson has stated that he will remain in Downing Street until a replacement is selected.
Former Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch announced her candidacy in the Times, stating that she desired a limited government and the ability to “speak the truth.”
